We did meet with Dr. Hardacre this morning and he confirmed the PET scan as showing "all clear"!! We are so happy! (AGAIN!) The suspicious spots in the lungs are consistent with pneumonia and he confirmed that as well. YIPEE!!! It is so exciting to me that I really can't even put it into words. PRAISE GOD...He is so good!
We have an appointment to see the surgeon, Dr. Holmes, in Birmingham on Tuesday, May 19. Dad has been "turned over" to the radiologist and oncologist since the surgery and he is excited to return back to Dr. Holmes to hear "the plan" from here.
Thank you and continue to pray for Dad to recover from the pneumonia and his continued healing. He could also stand to gain a few pounds!!! (hee hee)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Results
Praise GOD!!! The unofficial reading of the PET scan shows NO CANCER! The "official" reading from the pathologist will take two or three days to come back, but the radiologist who read it today saw no signs in the head and neck. There was a slight scare when she said she saw something "unusual" in one of his lungs. Her questioned Dad about fever, sinus activity etc. and it turns out that she suspects he has pneumonia. It would make sense because he has so much drainage from allergy and sinus problems and for the past two weeks he has been feeling feverish and chills, especially late in the day. We all attributed it to his body just working so hard to heal and of course he doesn't commit to resting much during the day. He has developed a bad cough as well and again he has been treating it as drainage problems from allergies. She couldn't say for sure, but her suspicions are that he does have pneumonia and she sent him for chest
x-rays, etc. After another hour or so and a visit to a different doctor to look at the x-rays, he also determined that it looks like pneumonia, sounded like pneumonia and shows symptoms like pneumonia. So he gave him antibiotics and an inhaler and told him to rest. He HAD to add that he couldn't say 100% without the official reading from the pathologist that it was pneumonia, but I feel so confident that it is. God is good. Continue to pray as we await the "official" results, I just wanted you all to know what we know. Thanks so much for your prayers and love!
x-rays, etc. After another hour or so and a visit to a different doctor to look at the x-rays, he also determined that it looks like pneumonia, sounded like pneumonia and shows symptoms like pneumonia. So he gave him antibiotics and an inhaler and told him to rest. He HAD to add that he couldn't say 100% without the official reading from the pathologist that it was pneumonia, but I feel so confident that it is. God is good. Continue to pray as we await the "official" results, I just wanted you all to know what we know. Thanks so much for your prayers and love!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Pray!!
Just wanted to you all know that the PET scan is scheduled for THIS THURSDAY at 8:30 in Huntsville. If you have ever had one before you know it is not a fun experience in the first place but when you add anxiety over what the results will show, it is even more dreadful. Not just for Dad, but for all of us. Please pray for Dad specifically and that the outcome of the test is "all clear". Pray for the anxiety that we will all feel while waiting for the results. We look forward to GOOD NEWS! Please pass this on to any prayer warriors who will lift Dad up. Thanks!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Follow Up Visit
Well, it has been nearly a month since I last posted. As you know, Dad finished all his treatments about this time last month and has spent the last 4 weeks healing and getting better and better each day. His appetite has increased and he has been eating more and more lately. He still struggles with things that don't "taste right" or things that are too spicy. If you have seen him out lately, you will agree that he looks great and we are so grateful. His energy levels are climbing back too. He works full days and has given up his afternoon nap. (I think I would have figured out how to keep that!) Today he even went out and TRIED to hit a golf ball.
He had an appointment with Dr. Hardacre today. (His 4 week post treatment appointment) The visit went well and he told dad he was looking good. He is calling to set up a PET scan appointment and should call us with that in the next day or so.. Hopefully it will be soon. Once that is completed we will be called back for an appointment to go over it. If everything is clear, we will then schedule an appointment with Dr. Holmes, the surgeon in Birmingham. That is who Dad really wants to see. He is ready to hear the "action plan". The only concern that Dr. Hardacre had today was an irritated spot on the inside of Dad's cheek. About a week or so ago, he bit down on it by accident when eating. You know if you have ever done that before, that for some reason you keep biting it over and over making it difficult to heal. Well, apparently it is a little swollen and he was concerned that it might show up as "suspicious" on the PET scan. (I am guessing that irritated areas or anything that is not "normal" lights up) That being the case, they would feel obligated to biopsy it. We all feel confident that it is nothing, but just that word can make you a little nervous. So, lets pray that the PET scan comes back all clear.! Pray for the continue healing of his mouth and the return function of his saliva glands. It can be very frustrating to deal with a dry mouth.
Even though he is hungry and eating more, he still cannot seem to gain any weight. Dr. Hardacre told him not to worry too much about that. As long as he is eating and getting nutrition, his body is using everything to heal. We can handle that!
Thank you in advance for praying for Dad. We have been so blessed and pray that God's plan is for complete healing. I will post after the PET scan and let you all know. Until then, Michelle
He had an appointment with Dr. Hardacre today. (His 4 week post treatment appointment) The visit went well and he told dad he was looking good. He is calling to set up a PET scan appointment and should call us with that in the next day or so.. Hopefully it will be soon. Once that is completed we will be called back for an appointment to go over it. If everything is clear, we will then schedule an appointment with Dr. Holmes, the surgeon in Birmingham. That is who Dad really wants to see. He is ready to hear the "action plan". The only concern that Dr. Hardacre had today was an irritated spot on the inside of Dad's cheek. About a week or so ago, he bit down on it by accident when eating. You know if you have ever done that before, that for some reason you keep biting it over and over making it difficult to heal. Well, apparently it is a little swollen and he was concerned that it might show up as "suspicious" on the PET scan. (I am guessing that irritated areas or anything that is not "normal" lights up) That being the case, they would feel obligated to biopsy it. We all feel confident that it is nothing, but just that word can make you a little nervous. So, lets pray that the PET scan comes back all clear.! Pray for the continue healing of his mouth and the return function of his saliva glands. It can be very frustrating to deal with a dry mouth.
Even though he is hungry and eating more, he still cannot seem to gain any weight. Dr. Hardacre told him not to worry too much about that. As long as he is eating and getting nutrition, his body is using everything to heal. We can handle that!
Thank you in advance for praying for Dad. We have been so blessed and pray that God's plan is for complete healing. I will post after the PET scan and let you all know. Until then, Michelle
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